QUESTIONS have been asked after a 102-year-old woman was sent home late at night – and had to be let into her house by a 93-year-old neighbour.

Violet Green, from Filton in Bristol, was assessed at her home by paramedics when she felt unwell, but they were concerned enough to take her to hospital.

Mrs Green, who lives alone, underwent further tests at Southmead hospital but doctors then decided to release her at 9pm.

The Red Cross charity – which helps transport patients – arranged to drive Mrs Green home but the hospital had to call her neighbour, 93-year-old Carole Mallet, to let her in because she had forgotten her keys.

Mrs Mallet said: "Violet was really cross; she didn't want to be taken home at that time of night but she was told there were no beds for her.

"Obviously she's not very active so to have to come home at that time was terrible.

"What if I hadn't been there? She is very independent and doesn't like to make a fuss.

"The nurse who called was very nice but it was out of her control."

The Red Cross service is in place to ensure that patients are safely transported to their homes and settled back in.

Urgent care facilities in the area, which includes A&E departments and minor injury units, were given a red risk rating last month – meaning that failures in the system have been identified.

A one-day audit revealed that nearly a quarter of beds at Southmead Hospital were taken by patients who could not be discharged because of a lack of support either from a care home or their own home.

Dr Chris Burton, medical director at North Bristol NHS Trust, said that there were beds available and that if a patient needed a bed, they would be cared for in the A&E unit.

He said: "Anyone who comes into our Emergency Department receives a full assessment. Following this a decision will be made in discussion with them as to whether it is in their best interests to be admitted to hospital or discharged.

"Home circumstances and time of day are carefully considered in this assessment, particularly when considering how to care for an elderly person.

"If an elderly person raised concerns about going home we would support them in the hospital for as long as necessary.

"We have a partnership with the Red Cross to help patients who need support with their discharge home. The Red Cross team work within the emergency department and where appropriate they can take patients home and ensure they are settled back in before leaving them.

"There were beds available in the hospital. If a patient needed a bed and one was not immediately available we would care for them in the emergency zone until they could be taken to a ward."